Activity level

chelsmaee7

at what point would you update your activity level from sedentary? I only average maybe 5000 steps a day and a few days a week I do squats (body weight) just 10 here and there throughout the day totaling around 60. I just got an exercise bike and plan to do at least an hour per day but two hours if I can fit it in (30 minutes 4 times a day) at 12-14mph. I feel like I may need to eat a little more doing this but I don't want to put my activity level up too much.

Blueseraphchaos

There's a site somewhere (i googled it but don't remember exactly what it is right now) that tells you activity level corresponding to step count. So 5-8,000 is lightly active, 8-10,000 is active, over 10,000 is extremely active, 2,500-5,000 is sedentary. From there, you could add in other exercise as you do it and eat those exercise calories back (or eat half back, since mfp overestimates calorie burns).

yogi323

I would say you are lightly active probably. I have selected lightly active as my activity level, and my fitbit normally doesn't mess with my calorie allotment when I'm around 4000/7000 steps. Lower than that and it takes away calories and any higher than that it give me more to eat. Try lightly active, stick with it for a month, and see how your weight loss goes.

SnuggleSmacks

If you have a step counter that links with MFP (Fitbit, Up, Loop, Bodymedia, etc.), then I would leave it at sedentary and let the counter adjust your calories. If not, then I would only change it if doing at least 8000 steps consistently.

chelsmaee7

SnuggleSmacks wrote: »

If you have a step counter that links with MFP (Fitbit, Up, Loop, Bodymedia, etc.), then I would leave it at sedentary and let the counter adjust your calories. If not, then I would only change it if doing at least 8000 steps consistently.

My steps do go onto MFP automatically from my iPhone but I don't carry it every single time I get up to walk across the house for something and occasionally leave it at home. I'm hoping to get a Fitbit this week to more accurate calculate my step count.

editorgrrl

chelsmaee7 wrote: »

at what point would you update your activity level from sedentary? I only average maybe 5000 steps a day and a few days a week I do squats (body weight) just 10 here and there throughout the day totaling around 60. I just got an exercise bike and plan to do at least an hour per day but two hours if I can fit it in (30 minutes 4 times a day) at 12-14mph.

If you have an activity tracker connected to MFP and if you enable negative calorie adjustments, then you can increase your activity level. You'll still get the same number of calories (TDEE minus deficit), but you'll start with more calories and get smaller adjustments.

Have you read the Sexypants post? So much good "MFP 101" information: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

chelsmaee7

I suppose i wouldn't have to eat every calorie if I had it at lightly active or I could keep it at sedentary and just eat back a portion of my exercise calories. According to MFP, if I were to do 2 hours on the exercise bike at 12-14 mph it would be around 800 calories. I think I'll have to see how hungry I am throughout the day with that. Right now MFP has my calories set at 1210 which I've been able to easily stay within on most days.

chelsmaee7

editorgrrl wrote: »

chelsmaee7 wrote: »

at what point would you update your activity level from sedentary? I only average maybe 5000 steps a day and a few days a week I do squats (body weight) just 10 here and there throughout the day totaling around 60. I just got an exercise bike and plan to do at least an hour per day but two hours if I can fit it in (30 minutes 4 times a day) at 12-14mph.

If you have an activity tracker connected to MFP and if you enable negative calorie adjustments, then you can increase your activity level. You'll still get the same number of calories (TDEE minus deficit), but you'll start with more calories and get smaller adjustments.

Have you read the Sexypants post? So much good "MFP 101" information: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

Going to read it right now! I have learned SO much over the last 28 days on here but I'm always looking to learn more!